Key message

Sufficient water and water of good quality are essential for life and all economic activity.

The increasing demand by citizens and
environmental organisations for cleaner rivers and lakes,
groundwater and coastal waters has been
evident for a considerable amount of time. This demand is one of the
reasons why the EU established a Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC)
for water protection and management, in order to prevent and reduce
pollution, promote sustainable water use, protect the aquatic
environment, improve the status of aquatic ecosystems and mitigate
the effects of floods and droughts. To achieve these objectives by
2015, the three Belgian regions and the federal government1 are
working on integrated river basin management plans (for the Scheldt,
Meuse, Rhine and Seine districts) and programmes of measures
appropriate for each water body. The major measures seek to prevent
deterioration, restore and improve the quality of aquatic environment
(water resources and ecosystem) and associated wetlands, reduce and
eliminate discharges of hazardous substances, achieve good chemical
and ecological status and ensure a balance between groundwater
abstraction and replenishment.

Water is not scarce in Belgium and water supply is
generally continuous and of good quality. Nevertheless, Belgium still
faces major water pollution challenges because of intensive
agriculture (use of pesticides and nitrogenous fertilisers is among the
highest in the OECD), industrial activity and densely populated
areas. A large and increasing proportion of groundwater aquifers have
high levels of nitrates and pesticides. Besides, wastewater treatment
has long lagged behind. Thanks to the concerted effort of the three
Belgian regions, industrial discharges to water continued to decline
and the share of the population connected to a wastewater treatment
plant grew from 42 % to 69 % between 2000 and 2007. As a
result, the concentration of pollutants in many surface waters
dropped, and aquatic life became more abundant. Moreover, further
reforms in the financing of water infrastructure led to a more
consistent application of the polluter pays principle. Overall,
Belgium’s pricing policy reflects the fact that water is an
economic commodity with a social dimension.

1
Belgium’s three regions bear most of the responsibility for fresh
water management, whereas the federal government is responsible for protection of the
North Sea and for setting product standards.